CULPEPER'S COMPLETE HERBAL

THE CHERRY TREE

I suppose there are few but know this tree, for its fruit's sake; and therefore I shall spare writing a description thereof.

Place. For the place of its growth, it is afforded room in every orchard.

Government and virtues. It is a tree of Venus. Cherries, as they are of different tastes, so they are of different qualities. The sweet pass through the stomach and the belly more speedily, but are of little nourishment; the tart or sour are more pleasing to an hot stomach, procure appetite to meat, and help to cut tough phlegm and gross humours; but when these are dried, they are more binding to the belly than when they are fresh, being cooling in hot diseases, and welcome to the stomach, and provoke urine. The gum of the cherry-tree, dissolved in wine, is good for a cold, cough, and hoarseness of the throat; mendeth the colour in the face, sharpeneth the eyesight, provoketh appetite, and helpeth to break and expel the stone; the black cherries bruised with the sotnes, and dissolved, the water thereof is much used to break the stone, and to expel gravel and wind.